New Delhi: The Congress has begun anew its attack on Union Minister M J Akbar after he returned to India amid the sexual harassment allegations levied against him by multiple women and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak out his stand on the issue.
Congress leader Anand Sharma, at a press conference, said how the prime minister’s silence in this matter was conspicuous and that it was also strange that PM who speaks on everything, is silent on the #MeToo movement and how it questions the dignity of his office.
Akbar, a former journalist, dodged a wave of reporters at the airport upon returning from an official trip to Nigeria. He immediately left from there to meet with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Government sources have stated that Akbar’s position is now shaky after multiple women spoke out against him as part of the #MeToo movement. The BJP has, however, kept silent on the matter after commenting that the charges against him were serious. Some reports suggest that within the party, some believe that there will be no legal action against him. BJP National President Amit Shah was not available for comment as he was away on a two-day tour to Madhya Pradesh.
Among the women who alleged sexual misconduct by the minister, journalist Priya Ramani was the first to come out with her story. She was soon followed by other women journalists, who recounted their encounters with him.
Previously, Akbar was the editor of prominent newspapers such as The Telegraph, The Asian Age and The Sunday Guardian. He is now a member of the Rajya Sabha with the BJP party.